Shade and curtain adjusting device.



No. 865,007,. PATENTEDSEPTMS,1907.

R. A. BRBITENPELD.

SHADE AND CURTAIN ADJUSTING DEVIG-E.

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APPLICATION FILED APB.9, 1907.

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RUDOLPH A. BREITENFELD, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

SHADE AND CURTAIN ADJUSTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed April 9,1907. Serial No. 367,231.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH A. BREITENFELI), a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful Shade and Curtain AdjustingDevice, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for attaching a shade roller of theordinary automatic spring acting type, and a curtain rod for curtain ordrapery to a window frame so that the shade roller and curtain rod maybe adjusted to different vertical heights on the windowframe. Thecurtain rod and shade roller usually occupy positions near the top ofthe window frame, and thus prevent free ventilation of the room bylowering the upper window sash, but my device allows both curtain rodand shade roller to be lowered any desired distance within the limits ofthe mechanism and thus permit a free passage of air over both curtainand shade when top window sash is lowered. This ventilation isaccompanied by no noise and rustling of the curtain and shade as withpresent construction, nor is the operation of the shade interfered with.I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of a two sash window andframe showing the shade roller and curtain rod with my adjusting devicein highest position. Fig. 2 is a side View of the window frame, showingthe adjusting device, shade roller and shade, and curtain rod andourtain in same position of roller and rod as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa front view of the adjusting device on larger scale than shown in Fig.1.. Fig. 4 is a part side view and part section of the adjusting device,including the shade roller and curtain rod and brackets for both rollerand rod. Fig. 5 is a section of the elements shown in Fig. 3 along lineX-X. Fig. 6 is the cam unlock for lowering. Fig. 7 is an isometric viewof a piece for attaching the spring spindle of the shade roller tosupporting bracket. Fig. 8 is a cabinet projection of the element shownin Fig. 7 with one lug bent to position. Fig. 9 is a side view of theelement illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 attached to the spring of the shaderoller. Fig. 10 is a cabinet projection of a device for replacing theordinary spring spindle of the shade roller and the attachmentillustrated by Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 11 is a top view of a device forreplacing the idler spindle of the shade roller so that the idler end ofthe roller may be attached to the supporting bracket.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The window frame A has attached to the upper portion of uprights thevertical double grooved strips B, shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,the two grooves being shown at O C. A hollow block D has flanges E Eguiding it in along the grooves C. Formed in the front face of block Dare two lugs F and F in each of which is a vertical opening as shown atG, Fig. 5. Lug F carries shade roller bracket H, and lug F carries curtain rod bracket H as shown in Fig. 4, the ends I and l" of thesebrackets fitting holes G in lugs F and F respectively, and the bracketends I and J carrying the shade roller and curtain rod respectively.Secured to the inner face at the top of block D is the flat spring K.This spring is angularly formed at L to serve the purpose of a pawl andagain bent at M as shown in Fig. 4.

Formed at intervals along strip 13 are a series of ratchet projectionsOO, etc. the number depending on length of strip B. The spring K forcesthe pawl L to engage with the ratchet projection O and holds block D andthe shade roller and curtain red at any desirable height. On account ofthe spring K, this locking action is automatic when blocks D are movedupward so that pawl-L passes above a ratchet O.

In order to lower the shade roller and curtain rod, the shaft P isprovided. Shaft P'which may be of any length depending 011 the height ofthe window, has a handle Q at its lower end by means of which P may begiven a partial rotation. Shaft P is journaled in R which is attached tostrip B, and in S which is attached to block D. A pin T passing throughshaft P in a space between S and the main portion of block D forms acollar which prevents longitudinal motion of shaft P with respect toblock D. The upper end of shaft P is cut down to a diametrical plane N,this plane bearing against the face of the end portion M of spring K, asshown in Figs. 4 and 6.

By partially rotating shaft P, the plane face N will raise M to positionM (Figs. 4 and 6), disengage pawl L from ratchet O, and thus allow theblocks D and with them the shade roller and curtain rod to be lowered toengagement with any other ratchet tooth O. The pressure of end portion Mof spring K on face N, due to spring in the latter, will restore shaft Pto its normal position as shown by N, Fig. 6, when turning force isremoved from handle Q. This normal position of shaft P allows pawl L tobear on the face of strip B so that pawl L will strike the next ratchettooth 0 after turning force is removed from handle Q.

An integral part of my invention is means for attaching the spindles ofthe shade roller to my adjusting device. The spring end spindle isusually flattened, and to receive this flattened spindle I have providedthe device shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. This consists of a piece formed asshown with a vertical rectangular opening U to receive the flattenedspindle, a closing lug V and a projection having a vertical hole W, thelatter to receive end J of bracket. After the flattened spindle isplaced in opening U, lug V is closed by a blow, thus firmly uniting thetwo parts. The second lug V is closed when the piece is made.

Fig. 10 illustrates a method of attaching the spring end of the shaderoller to my adjusting device by replacing the usual fiat end spindlewith the device shown, in which the end Y is driven in the spindlesocket and secured by pin Z. A hole W is provided to receive bracket endJ as already described.

Fig. 11 illustrates a means for attaching the free spindle end of theshade roller to my adjusting device. A cap a, formed to fit over the endof the shade roller, has a sleeve 0, concentrically attached. A spindleb is fitted to this sleeve, one end of the spindle 0 being formed largeenough to receive hole d and the other end headed as shown at f. Somelongitudinal motion is allowed spindle b in sleeve 0 to accommodatevarying lengths of shade roller and distances between fittings. A hole dis provided to receive one of the bracket ends .I as already described.

The operation of my adjusting device is as follows: A pair oi theadjusting devices shown by Fig. 3 is employed, one being attached toeach upright oi the window frame as shown by Fig. 1. It the shade rollerg and curtain rod h be at the position shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, aslight turn of handle Q will release block D due to disengagement oipawl L and ratchet O, and the shade roller and curtain rod may belowered nearly as far as desired. After this height is reached, theturning iorce is removed from handle Q and the next ratchet tooth 0below pawl K will engage the latter and hold the parts at that height.To raise the shade roller and curtain rod, an upward force is exerted onhandles Q, this force being transmitted to blocks D by collar pin '1.The pawl L will pass upward over ratchet teeth 0, engaging the pair ofratchet projections 0 next below, when the upward force is removed fromhandles Q.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent oithe United States, is

1. The combination, in a shade and curtain adjuster, of a double groovedbase strip, a double flanged hollow block, having flanges fitted togrooves in base strip, ratchet teeth on base strip, a spring actuatedpawl attached to interior of hollow block and engaging ratchet teeth onbase strip,

and a shaft with a cam formed as part of said shaft, so

arranged that partial rotation of shaft will cause cam to disengage pawland ratchet, substantially as described.

2. In a shade and curtain adjuster, the combination of a verticallyadjustable block, a shade bracket and curtain bracket attached thereto,a base Strip guiding said block, a spring pawl on said block, ratchetteeth on said base strip and a shaft journaled in said adjustable block,with a cam formed on end of said shaft for operating spring pawl,substantially as described.

3. In a shade and curtain adjuster, the combination of pair ofvertically guided and adjustable hollow blocks D, a curtain bracket Hand a shade bracket H attached to each hollow block D, a curtain rod hattached to curtain brackets H, a shade roller y, and a block havingrectangular opening U and closing lugs V V for attaching spring spindleof shade roller to one of shade brackets H, with a shade roller endformed of cup a, concentric sleeve 6 and headed spindle f for attachingidler end of shade roller g to one of shade brackets H, substantially asdescribed and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH A. BREITENFELD.

Witnesses GAD JONES, A. C. HOPPMANN.

